Geocache - Eudunda Interest Group

The sport of  Geocaching started in 2000 when the Global Positioning System , which uses satellites to operate, had a deliberate inaccuracy factor removed.  A small box, or 'cache', is hidden in a public place and the co-ordinates noted down from the hiders GPS receiver. The co-ordinates are then published on an internet site and can be accessed by other people who can use their GPS devices to get to the hiding place and discover the cache.  At their simplest a cache just contains a log book where each finder records their visit with a message. Other caches are containers of differing sizes containing “swap” items, finders being allowed to take something then leave something of equal value. Some caches have a “travel bug” planted in them. A travel bug is an item with a tag bearing a unique tracking number attached. When the bugs are found, the finder takes it, and places it in another cache. Sometimes the travel bugs have specific instructions as to where the owner wants it to go next.  There are also trackable geocoins to be found.

 

The Geocaching.com database currently lists around 390,000 caches in the world, over 1800 of them in South Australia.

 

There are actually quite a few in the surrounding areas of Eudunda, thanks to several local geocachers mainly Post Office staff!!  This has brought many geocachers from other areas to Eudunda, and there have been plenty of positive and encouraging comments made about our town, and in particular about the Colin Thiele Gardens.

 

To further promote the town, the locals have organized a Geocaching Event called A Day in the Valley of Hidden Treasures.  This will be held on Saturday May 12^th  starting at 10.30am in the gardens, with a caching activity which should take the visitors out and about to see what this area has to offer.  There will be prizes awarded, and the local businesses have been very supportive in providing goodies for these. Funding assistance has also been received from the Regional Partnerships Project through ECBAT.

 

Geocaching is a healthy outdoor activity for both individuals and families.  For some it is about finding as many caches as possible, for others it is simply about going to places where they would not normally have gone, and about learning interesting facts about many things. Either way, there is a lot of fun to be had.  For further information, visit www.geocaching.com.

 

The photo is of three local explorers GPS receivers
at a fantastic location in the Barossa Valley where we found a cache once.